Business picking up at Staten Island Mall, with first-to-market shops

The iPhone 5 debuted Friday morning to scores of tech-hungry Islanders outside the Apple store inside the Staten Island Mall, where business is picking up and occupancy is at 98%
(Staten Island Advance/Mark Stein).

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - NEW SPRINGVILLE - Last Friday morning, scores of Staten Islanders flocked to the Staten Island Mall to get their mitts on the world's newest, most desired tech gadget: The iPhone 5.

In all, Friday and the weekend was a major success for Apple, the iPhone maker that reportedly sold 5 million devices.

The Mall, the home of Staten Island's only Apple store, has also had its fair share of success, said spokesman Dave Albertson, of General Growth Properties (GGP), which owns the New Springville-based shopping complex.

"We're at 98.8 percent full," he said, in terms of occupancy. "Which is fantastic and well above the curve for the national perspective from malls across the country."

He said almost 70,000 square feet of new retail locations have been filled within the Mall in the last year. FIRST-TO-MARKET

The Mall has opened numerous first-to-market shops -- which means first of its kind in the area -- such as Michael Kors, Fossil, Oakley, Love Culture and Adidas.

"We do our very best to provide all amenities and retailers that are first-to-market. You can go down the list. We're doing extremely well and we're happy with where we're going," Albertson added. A first-to-market store like Fossil, which might not initially draw significant foot traffic, takes close to nine months to register on the radar of many consumers.

The Pandora jewelry store, located on the lower center court in the Mall, is currently undergoing a major expansion and should be ready for the holiday season.

Bonefish Grill opened last month in the Crossings lot across from the Mall.

"It's just another opportunity for Staten Islanders to stay on Staten Island to experience what we have to offer here," said Albertson.

The recent back-to-school shopping season was solid, he said, and the Mall expects that to roll over into a successful holiday season.

Following the economy's down-turn four years ago, Albertson said the national scale, in terms of holiday shopping, has increased 1 percent each year.

"We've been more than comfortable with the progress of where we are compared to other shopping centers across the portfolio," the GGP employee said.

"We're in a really good position at the Staten Island Mall. We're the only game in town, and the increase in tolls has also helped."

In April this year, New York City officials declared clothing and footwear under $110 to be exempt from the City's 4.5 percent sales tax. The same applies for New York State's 4 percent rate.

Albertson said customers have taken advantage of the decrease.

A BOON

Meanwhile, as new iPhone 5 users tinkered with their purchase in workshops at the Apple store, Albertson noted having the big retailer in the Mall is an absolute plus.

"They're a great tenant. It's a great amenity and retailer and it's right here on the Island. We have one of the largest retailers in the world, and we have a little piece of it right here," he said.

By 1 p.m. Friday, the store was almost sold out of the popular new item.

"Just because everyone has it, you gotta get it!" said Kristen Tabeek of Annadale, who was waiting in line to buy one of the remaining phones. An upgrade from Verizon made the difference, she added, noting the device will cost a bit less than full retail price.

Another shopper, Michael Goetz, said he saw a gigantic line snaking around the Verizon store on Richmond Avenue Friday morning.

Goetz learned about the phone's bright screen and fast capabilities after it was released to the public.

"I'm excited," he said, but he's going to wait a little longer. "You could probably get it for free for Christmas then, right?"